the blog of LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange

Citizen dialog for transparent process

Sunday, 03 March 2013

VDT v Valdosta Re Wastewater

The VDT has apparently decided the City of Valdosta is to blame
for the
Withlacoochee Wastewater Woes,
and has made its case in a story and two editorials.
They seem to have forgotten about
the overflow in 2012 already.
And the VDT seems to have forgotten about it and its editor's own
apparent roles in the loss of the recent SPLOST election that
would have funded a new wastewater plant.

When the flooding occurred in April 2009, the City made
extraordinary efforts to hold back the flooding, bringing in dirt
and heavy machinery to build a berm around the influent pump station
and other treatment equipment, working round the clock.

The efforts were successful. The treatment plant remained on during
the duration of the flood, and Valdosta's raw sewage remained
contained, though the facility incurred damages to its electrical
and biological purification systems, according to Utilities Director
Henry Hicks.

This year, the City opted for a different approach—cut
electricity to the underwater portions of the plant, submit to the
flooding and clean up afterwards.

The plant was “taken offline” Thursday at 9 a.m.
“to prevent further damage to equipment and associated
electrical and control systems,” according to a statement
issued by the Department of the City Manager.

The City stated that as a result of the shutdown, “untreated
sewage will be discharging directly into the river” at a rate
of between five and six million gallons of raw sewage per day.

In addition, the floodwaters were allowed into the plant and around
the remaining portions of the berm that was constructed in 2009
during the rising flood. Only half of the berm now remains, as the
other half was removed to allow access to the lower portions of the
plant, Hicks said.

So far, this year's response strategy seems to have saved the City
money. In 2009, about $500,000 was spent in manpower, equipment and
supplies to build the berm alone, and the plant, kept running,
incurred significant damages though raw sewage was kept out of the
river. This year, the money was not spent on the berm or to prevent
the flooding, and at least 15 to 20 million gallons of raw sewage
will have been released into the Withlacoochee by the time the plant
is back online.

There's more in the story, which is well worth a read.
Also note this inserted in the middle of the story:

Since the 2009 flood event, the city has applied three times to the
Federal Emergency Management Agency for funding to make major
improvements to the sewer system, move and rebuild the plant at a
cost of more than $90 million. FEMA denied the city's requests each
time.

At this time, the sewage discharge is also a potential risk to the
city's drinking water supply. According to information provided by
the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Upper Floridan
aquifer is the sole source of water supply for Valdosta and much of
the surrounding area. The aquifer “receives large volumes of
direct discharge from the Withlacoochee River through sinkholes in
the streambed or off-channel.”

The USPS states,”The strong connection between the
Withlacoochee River and ground water in the Valdosta area has
created concerns about the potential for contamination of
groundwater supplies by contaminants in the river.”

A better plan may not have resolved the issues faced by the city and
within the city this week, but better planning may have had
officials and residents better prepared for an occasion when more
than a little rain fell.

When questioned about the reasoning for not protecting the plant
from flooding this time, the only answers have been about money.
Perhaps if more of the plant is damaged now, FEMA will approve the
funding to move and rebuild it. In the long run, the cost benefits
of letting it flood and being able to replace it were weighed
against environmental harm, and the river lost.

In four short years, dumping raw sewage went from a potential
catastrophe to a barely noticed non-issue. In the long run, the
community will have to decide if it was worth it.